From Seattle writer and consultant Matt Rosenberg...: "The Calculus of Mediocrity"

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"The Calculus of Mediocrity"

November 06, 2004

Way too many college kids have been coddled by K-12 public schools, and as a result, they can't do math and science. Spending more money on public schools really doesn't seem to be the answer. That's the conclusion of University of Washington profressor Cliff F. Mass, in this guest column from today's Seattle Times.

...the university gave virtually the same mathematics placement test to all freshmen from the mid-1980s until 2000; students' scores declined during this period....(and)...increasing numbers of our students have been forced to take remedial math courses prior to starting the normal college curriculum.
...One reason is surely the transition to "Integrated Math" in middle and high schools during the 1980s. Instead of teaching mathematical subjects such as algebra, geometry and trigonometry as coherent subjects, with sufficient time spent to master their principles, "Integrated Math" combines them in a frenetic mix that rapidly jumps between these subjects using lots of pictures and real-life examples.

...The decline in math ability has been paralleled by a darker and more serious trend: a lessening of the personal responsibility, attitude and work habits of many students. A lax environment has spread through our secondary schools, with no-fault test-retake policies and rampant grade inflation. Students expect high grades and when they don't secure them, they often blame the instructor, not their poor attendance or unwillingness to keep up on assignments. Chillingly, their ability to maintain sustained concentration has lessened.

Perhaps we are seeing the result of overindulged students, poorly supervised by harried working parents, who have spent too much time with video and computer games.

It is important to note that the "golden" top 20 percent of the UW student body is as capable as ever — students who are intelligent, highly motivated to succeed and successful despite the system. But for the others, we must ask why they are losing ground, and whether more than money and smaller class sizes is required to address their needs.

Mass has taught atmospheric sciences at UW for 20 years. My dad is a retired professor of social psychology at the University of Chicago, and was similarly appalled at how poorly educated, in the humanities, were his students. You need only look at the horrendous dumbing down of the second-tier "gifted" student program in the Seattle public schools (known as "Spectrum") to know that what matters above all is self-esteem and political correctness, not academic rigor.

Posted by Matt Rosenberg at November 6, 2004 12:15 PM

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Comments:

I've got a unique angle on this one.

Back at Sedro-Woolley High School in the late 90s', I was always the kid in the class who was one of the top ten percent, answering the questions and an A-B student in school. Problem is, I was an easy target for the bullies and I now have some... issues because of that, not the least of which being clinical depression.

Moreover, I wished and to be honest, whined for more to do. But my teachers didn't know what to do with an above-average IQ kid and I sort of got soft mathematically...

NOW, don't feel sorry for me. I'm doing quite well, thank you - WSU-DDP, hoping to graduate this spring and depending on who wins the gubernatorial race, start a small buisness (I think right NOW you know my preference) and consider a 2008-10 run for the State House.

That said, I have to tell you, I got into politics so MY (potential) children don't have to go through that. For that matter, I got into education politics in part because until the victimized turn right around and put the buisness end of the blame gun on the fat cat Educrats and the thugs (Pre-9/11, it was becoming acceptable to call them terrorists. Then this continent got, for good reasons, the concept that a narrow definition would be better) amok in our schools... we're not going to get change.

Change like, for instance, 3 strikes and you're expelled for bullies, performance pay for teachers, and serious debate about parental accountability. That ONLY comes from involvement in the political process. That means YOU, the taxpaying reader who wants change in education who voted NO on 884, have to take the next step and either run for public office - like school board - or join me in applying to be a trustee of a state public higher ed institution AND make that bid public. THEN and only then will we seize the commanding heights of the debate and be able to truly make things happen.

Thanks for bringing this to our attention, and the public service Matt

Josef

Posted by: Josef K at November 6, 2004 05:58 PM

I added some GOTA (Get Out The Activists) commentary linking here at http://josef-a-k.blogspot.com/2004/11/one-reason-why-i-run-for-svc-trustee.html. Hope you take my advice...

Posted by: Josef K at November 6, 2004 07:28 PM

I'm glad that someone has the sense to realize just how bad the Integrated Math system is. I'm a high school student, and even though math is not my favorite subject, I know I would like it more if it was taught as "coherent subjects."

And of course our ability to concentrate has lessened. What to people expect from a generation born and bred on TV?

As to responsibility and such, we all (everyone is this country) need to learn self-discipline. Speaking of which, I have to get back to my homework... Keep up the good blogging!

Posted by: laurenoo at November 7, 2004 08:44 PM

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